1 GENERAL AVIATION AREAS (GAA)

• 1.1 Description
  • 1.1.1 GAA are part of a CTR or a CTA released as class G airspace during daylight hours to facilitate VFR operations, including glider and powered VFR activity. Pilots are reminded that VFR training or glider flying activity is not confined to GAA.
  • 1.1.2 Within an active GAA pilots are not required to conform to the VFR cruising levels specified in CAR 91.313 (a).
  • 1.1.3 GAA are depicted on VNC and Area charts. High level GAA are depicted on VPC. General aviation areas are depicted on charts with the designation G---.
• 1.2 Entry Into and Exit From GAA
  • 1.2.1 It is the responsibility of the person or organisation requesting activation of a GAA to ensure that ATC has a contact telephone number for the requester. Pilots of other VFR aircraft (who are not part of the organisation originally requesting activation) wishing to utilise the GAA must seek confirmation from the appropriate ATC unit that the GAA has been activated. They should also make entry and exit reports and maintain a listening watch on the applicable ATC frequency unless the GAA has been activated for a specific period for glider, hangglider or paraglider operations.
  • 1.2.2 Since entry and exit reports may be required (unless other reporting arrangements are made with the applicable ATC unit) VFR aircraft are normally required to be radio equipped. It is recommended that transponders are used in order to provide ATC units with accurate position information. Pilots of powered aircraft are to set SSR code 1400 on their transponders.
• 1.3 Types of GAA
  • 1.3.1 There are three types of GAA -- those that are active:
    • (a) during daylight hours (without reference to ATC);
    • (b) when notified to the applicable ATC unit (ATC notification); and
    • (c) when approved by the applicable ATC unit (ATC approval).
  • 1.3.2 GAA that require "ATS notification" to activate may be subject to a ten minute delay in activation to allow IFR traffic to be cleared or re-routed if necessary.
• 1.4 List of GAA
  • 1.4.1 GAA, with geographical coordinates, are listed in the Air Navigation Register.
  • 1.4.2 A list of GAA (not including geographic coordinates) is provided in Table ENR 5.5-1, Table ENR 5.5-2, and Table ENR 5.5-3.

  Table ENR 5.5-1
  GAA Active During Daylight Hours

  Code	GAA name	Vertical limits	ATC unit and frequency(MHz)
  NZG157	North Shore	2500 ft - 3500 ft	Auckland Approach; 124.3
  NZG275	Ardmore	2500 ft - 3500/4500 f	t Auckland Approach; 124.3
  NZG452	Ormond	SFC - 1000 ft	Gisborne Tower; 127.3
  NZG752	Crown Terrace	SFC - 3000 ft	Queenstown Tower; 118.1
  NZG755	Coronet Peak	SFC - 5500 ft	Queenstown Tower; 118.1
  NZG758	Arrow Junction	SFC - 2100 ft	Queenstown Tower; 118.1

  Table ENR 5.5-2
  GAA Active by Notification to ATC

  Code	GAA name	Vertical limits	ATC unit and frequency(MHz)
  NZG253	Maramarua	4500 ft - 5500 ft	Auckland Approach; 124.3
  NZG254	Matamata	4500 ft - 6500 ft	Bay Approach; 125.3
  NZG870	Lake Station	9500 ft - FL195	Christchurch Area; 129.4
  NZG957	Omarama	13,500 ft - FL175	Christchurch Area; 129.3
  NZG958	Two Thumbs	13,500 ft - FL175	Christchurch Area; 129.3

  Table ENR 5.5-3
  GAA Active by Approval of ATC

  Code	GAA name	Vertical limits	ATC unit and frequency(MHz)
  NZG152	Moir Hill	3500 ft - 4500 ft	Auckland Approach; 124.3
  NZG153	Waitoki	3500 ft - 4500 ft	Auckland Approach; 124.3
  NZG155	Woodhill	2500 ft - 3500 ft	Auckland Approach; 124.3
  NZG156	Hobsonville	2500 ft - 3500 ft	Auckland Approach; 124.3
  NZG158	Whenuapai	2500 ft - 3500 ft	Auckland Approach; 124.3
  NZG255	Karapiro	4500 ft - 6500 ft	Bay Approach; 125.3
  NZG259	Te Puke	LL CA - 4500 ft	Bay Approach; 119.5
  NZG272	Huntly	2500 ft - 4500 ft	Bay Approach; 125.3
  NZG276	Hunua 1	3500 ft - 4500 ft	Auckland Approach via Christchurch Information; 118.5
  NZG351	Egmont 2	LL CA - 9500 ft	New Plymouth Approach; 124.7
  NZG357	Feilding	LL CA - 5500 ft	Ohakea Approach; 125.1
  NZG451	Taupo	6500 ft - FL165	Bay Approach; 119.5 or 125.3
  NZG459	Paeroa Range	4500 ft - 5500 ft	Bay Approach; 119.5
  NZG551	Puketoi	4500 - 6500 ft	Ohakea Approach; 125.1
  NZG674	Baring Head	SFC - 600 ft	Wellington Tower; 118.8
  NZG756	Skyline	SFC - 4500 ft	Queenstown Tower; 118.1
  NZG852	New Brighton	LL CA - 4500 ft	Christchurch Approach; 120.9
  NZG853	Lyttelton	3500 ft - 5500 ft	Christchurch Approach; 120.9
  NZG951	Springfield	LL CA - 9500 ft	Christchurch Approach; 120.9
  NZG952	Coleridge	LL CA - 12,500 ft	Christchurch Area; 128.1
  NZG953	Alexandra	13,500 ft - FL175	Christchurch Area; 129.3
  NZG954	Ranfurly	13,500 ft - FL175	Christchurch Area; 129.3
  NZG955	Waitaki	13,500 ft - FL175	Christchurch Area; 129.3
  NZG959	Rangitata River	13,500 ft - FL175	Christchurch Area; 129.3

  Notes:
  • 1 NZG276 will be available for activation when Auckland RWY 23L is in use, and the reported cloudbase at Ardmore is 4000 ft or higher. Requests for activation of NZG276 should be made to Christchurch Information via telephone or on frequency 118.5 MHz. Advice of NZG276 being open will be broadcast on the Ardmore AWIB (121.0 MHz).
  • 2 NZG351 will only be available when New Plymouth RWY 23 is in use and forecast conditions are such that a change to RWY 05 is unlikely.
• 1.5 Conditions on GAA Active by ATC Approval
  • 1.5.1 If the conditions specified in the notes to Table ENR 5.5-3 are in force, the GAA is able to be activated. The exceptions to this are:
    • (a) when the requested operation can be accommodated as controlled VFR; or
    • (b) if at any time during an emergency situation within the ATC unit's airspace it is deemed inadvisable.
  • 1.5.2 At other times when the conditions in the notes are not in force, pilots may still request activation, but ATC are less likely to activate the area.